FFC-Educational Advocate

Rising Ground; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,129 - 58,824; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

11 Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Time

Paid Vacation

Paid Personal days

Job summary

Rising Ground in New York City seeks an FFC-Educational Advocate to provide educational advocacy, monitor academic performance, and connect students with tutoring and enrichment opportunities; the focus is on ensuring access to quality, best-fit supports.

The Specialist supports 5th graders and families through middle school selection, coordinates with schools, tutors, and case planners, tracks progress in the Care 4 platform, and helps secure appropriate services and attendance improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and knowledge of child welfare system.
• 1 year of experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer proficiency, familiarity with Connections.

Responsibilities

• Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding students’ performance and needs.
• Connect students to afterschool and summer extracurricular activities.
• Update the Care 4 platform with contacts and tutoring updates.
• Work with families to ensure students receive required supports.
• Collaborate with schools, case planners, and tutors to address educational concerns.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree, knowledge of child welfare system

Tools

Connections

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

FFC-Educational Advocate

Full Time Professional New York, NY, US

Salary: $53,476.75 Annually

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

About the Role

The Education Specialist provides educational advocacy, conducts academic performance monitoring, and makes referrals to quality tutoring and extracurricular activities. The Education Specialist also provides individualized assistance with the middle school selection processes to all 5th grade students and their families. The Specialist will ensure that the list of middle schools the student is submitting are quality, best‑fit schools.

What You’ll Do

• Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding the students’ performance, needs, and any concerns.
• Connect students to afterschool and summer extracurricular activities.
• Consistently update the Care 4 platform with contacts, tutoring updates, and any relevant information regarding students, for example: how students are progressing academically, the outcome of IEP meetings, middle school application and/or promotion in doubt.
• Work with elementary age students and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on behalf of students.
• Work with Case Planner, foster parent, birth parent/caregiver and tutor to address educational concerns.
• As needed, request referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school.
• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services.
• Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes.
• Collect, review, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, etc.
• Use data to identify struggling students.
• Work with Case Planners and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports.
• During the Middle School application process, the Education Specialist will ensure that when applying for middle school, the list of schools the student is submitting are quality, best‑fit schools, and will record this list of schools in the online platform.
• The Specialist is responsible for guiding the process as much as possible, establishing trust, explaining its importance, and providing information/guidance when a selection may not be appropriate.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and knowledge of child welfare system
• 1 year of experience (preferred)
• Good verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Computer proficiency, knowledge of Connections
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Benefits

• 11 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Personal days

Insurance Coverage

• Medical - 3 plan options
• Dental - 2 plan options

Clinic/Field/Corporate Office

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday in Brooklyn or Bronx. Work hours options are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, 10 am - 6 pm.

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to work in-person in New York City (NY) for at least 3 days or more per week.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)

Application & Interview Process

• Application reviewed by Talent Acquisition Team member
• Phone screen with Talent Acquisition Team member
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Interview Decision & Feedback

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.